Egg-crate.



P. L. L. SGHARLAOH.

EGG'GRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1914.

1,1 18,154. PatentedNov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

Witneoceo THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO LITHO WASHINGTON. D. t

F. L. L. SGHARLACH.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Tu: NORRIS PETERS C0 PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHING ION, D. C

FERNANDO I1. Ia. SCI-IARLACH, OF IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS.

EGG-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Application filed. January 16, 1914. Serial No. 812,494.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERNANDO L. L. SCHARLAOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Iroquois, in the county of Iroquois and State of Illinois, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved egg crate which is intended to be used for sendingeggs through the parcel post.

The principal object of the inventlon is to provide a crate which is so constructed that the eggs will be suspended in the crate and prevented from striking together, or striking against the sides or top and bottom of the crate.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the crate that the crate will be very strong and not liable to be easily broken or crushed.

Another object of the invention 1s to so construct the crate that the egg-support1ng means mounted in the drum will form a reinforcement for the drum, and thus prevent the drum from being broken.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the crate that the crate may be taken to pieces and the various Parts stored in a small amount of space.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the crate that the top drum head may be very easily put in place and securely held in the locked position.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the egg-supporting portion of the crate that the egg-holding device or sacks will be securely suspended and each sack divided into sections so that the eggs contained in the sacks will be prevented from striking together and also prevented from striking the side walls of the drum 1n case the drum is placed on its side instead of an upright position.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the crate that the various parts may be very cheaply manufactured and easily and quickly assembled.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the 1mproved crate in the set-up position; Fig. 2 is a top-plan view of the crate; Fi 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse'sectional view taken along the line l1 of F g. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of one'of the dlsks which forms part of the egg support- 1ng means; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper drum head. Fig. 7 is a slde elevation of the egg-supporting means with a modified form of egg-holding sacks in place and having eggs placed therein.

The drum 10 is formed from a strip of sheet material such as cardboard which has its end portions joined by a gummed strip 11. In the form shown this drum has been shown cyllndrical, but it is obvious that the drum could be formed in any suitable shape desired. If the drum were made any other shape, the egg-holding means, to be hereinafter described, would, of course, be cut to conform to the shape of the drum so that the egg-holding element would fit closely in the drum and not lose its function of bracing the drum. Tongues 12 are cut from the upper and lower edge portions of the strip which forms the drum and are bent inwardly to form lobes for supporting the lower drum head 13 and for securing the upper drum head 14:. The upper and lower drum heads are strawboard and in the form shown are cut circular so that they will fit into the drum and engage the walls of the drum at all points. Guiding slides 15 are pivotally connected with the drum head 14 and are intended to be placed beneath the lobe 12 after the head 14: has been put in place with. the lobes passing through the cut-out portions 16 and thus form guidesto permit the drum head 14 to turn readily when the operators fingers are inserted through the finger holds 17 and the head turned. It is, of course, obvious, that when the head is first put in place the guiding slides will turn upon the eyelet 18 so that they will not interfere with the passage of the lobes 12 through the cut-out portion 16. The egg-supporting means is removabl mounted in the drum and is of such height and size that when the cover head is in place, the egg-supportingmeans will contact with the upper and lower heads to brace the crate longitudinally and also engage the walls of the drum to prevent the drum from being crushed by lateral pressure. The tube 19 which forms the central standard of the egg-supporting means is preferably formed of cardboard and has its opposite end porby the disks 21 and 22. These disks 21 and 22 are provided with notches 23 which are cut so that they may be positioned in alinement witheach other and also in alinement with notches formed in a large disk 24: mounted upon. the tube 19 intermediate its length. The notches which are formed in this disk 24 are each provided with a flared mouth 25 which leads to an enlarged opening 26 forming a pocket. This disk 2ft which is mounted upon the tube 19 is slidably mounted so that the disk may be moved upon the tube according to the number of eggs which are placed in the sacks supported by the egg-supporting means; that is to say, if three or more are placed in each sack, disks 2% will be positioned between the layers of eggs. This egg-supporting means is preferably formed entirely from strawboard so that the cost of the crate will be reduced to the minimum amount and also so that the crate will be light but at the same time strong.

The egg-containing sacks or tubes 27 are arranged in pairs which are connected by the strings or tapes 28, which tapes 28 are passed across the lower disk of the egg supporter and brought through the notches 23. These sacks are preferably formed of some light fabric such as muslin, and are tapered and provided at their lower end with reinforcing eyes in which the tapes 28 are se cured. After the tapes have been passed through the notches of the lower disk, an egg is placed in each of the sacks and the central portions of the sacks are then drawn through the flared slots 25 into the pockets 26. Eggs are then placed in the upper end portions and the drawing strings 29 are drawn to close the sacks and are passed through the notches 23 of the upper disk and wound about the button 30 carried by the upper disk. This button is formed of some light resilient metal such as tin and it will thus be seen that when the drawing strings are wound about the shank of the button that the strings will be held tightly in place and the sacks thus securely suspended in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 7.

After the eggs have been placed in the sacks and the sacks secured in the suspended position, the egg supporter is placed in the drum and the cover head 14 is then put in place. The lobes 12 are then bent inwardly and upwardly to extend through the cut-out portions 16 and the guiding slides which have been previously turned toward the center of the head are moved to extend beneath the lobes. The fingers of one hand can then be inserted through the openings 17 and the head turned to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position the slides will cover the cut-out portions 16 and the lobes all resting upon the free end portions of the slides will hold the slides in the proper position to cover the cut-out portions. t will thus be seen that the improved egg crate will suspend the eggs as shown in Figs. 3 and T and prei'ent the from striking against the walls of the crate. it will also be noted. that the crate is so constructed that it may be manufactured and supplied to dealers in a. knocked-down condition and set up by the dealer when he desires to use the same. lVhen the are shipped, the bill for the eggs can be placed in the hollow standard 19.

In Fig. 7 there has been shown a modified form of egg container sack. In this form ach of the sacks 2? is formed from a tube of thin material such as gauze, the tube being doubled intermediate its length and passed across the bottom disk 22 and drawn through the oppositely disposed notches of this disk. After the tube has been drawn through the notches, the tube is twisted and are placed in the arms of the tube and the arms of the tube are then twisted and passed through the notche" of the disk 21. The arms are then a ain twisted and eggs are placed in the tube above the disk 2%. The ends of the tube are now twisted and pa sed through the notches 2?) of the upper disk 21 and passed about the neck of the button 30. In this form the are suspended in the same manner as in the form shown in Fig. 3, the only difien ence being the construction of the egg-holding sacks. It is, of course, understood that the tubes 27 can be formed of any suitable material, but it is preferred to have them formed of some thin material so that the tubes will be light and may be easily passed through the notches of the disk 21, 22, and 24.

hat is claimed is:

1. A crate of the character described comprising a receptacle container supporting means positioned in said receptacle, containers carried by said supporting means, and means carried by said supporting means for dividing said containers into a plurality of compartments.

2. A crate of the character described comprising a receptacle, container supporting means mounted in said receptacle and bracing said receptacle against longitudinal and transverse pressure in a plurality of directions, containers carried by said supporting means, said supporting means for dividing said containers into a plurality of compartments.

A crate of the character described com prising a receptacle, a support in said receptacle, said support comprising a standard, containing means suspended by said supporting means, and means carried by said standard for engaging said containing means to divide the same into sections.

4:. A crate of the character described comprising a receptacle, supporting means in said receptacle, said supporting means comprising a standard provided with a chamber, engaging means forming closures. for said chamber, and a fabric article-receiving device supported in a suspended position by said engaging means.

5. A crate of the character described comprising a receptacle, supporting means in said receptacle, said supporting means comprising a standard, fabric containing tubes carried by said standard in a suspended position, and a plate carried by said standard and provided with slots terminating in enlarged pockets, the fabric tubes being passed through said slots into said pockets whereby said tubes will be divided into upper and lower sections.

6. In a crate of the character described a supporting means comprising a body por tion having its upper and lower ends provided with notches, a disk mounted upon said body portion and provided with notches, and egg-holding tubes each having its intermediate portion passed across the bottom of said body portion through the notches formed therein and having its arms carried upwardly and through the notches of said disk with its end portions passed through the notches formed in the top of said body portion and releasably connected with said body portion.

7. In a crate of the character described an egg-supporting means comprising a body portion, and a flexible egg-containing means connected intermediate its length with one end of said body portion and 'having its arms extending to the opposite end portion of said body portion and releasably connected therewith, and means carried by said body portion for dividing the arms of said egg-holding means into a plurality of compartments.

8. In a device of the character described a supporting means, and containing means releasably connected with said supporting means and having its central portion passing across one end of said supporting means with its end portions carried along said supporting means and connected with the opposite end portion thereof, the intermediate seotions of the end portions of said last mentioned means constituting flexible containers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FERNANDO L. L. SOHARLAOH.

Vitnesses:

ORPHA M. SoHARLAoH, V. E. MATTOX.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

